When a Loved One Suffers

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This is the sixth post in the series of Processing Emotional Pain. This is for those who walk beside one who suffers. Perhaps we suffer too.  We certainly suffer as we watch our loved one experience and process their emotional pain.

We long to fix it, to hide it, to run away from it. We long to heal the pain so we don't have to witness it any more or so that we can feel good that we helped someone. Walking beside someone who is suffering takes courage.

Processing Emotional Pain through Viewing Art

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This is the fifth post in the series of Processing Emotional Pain. “We often come away from someone else’s creation with a deeper understanding of our own story.” -Jan Phillips in God Is at Eye Level: Photography as a Healing Art

When we spend time with a piece of art in contemplation and prayer, it can access parts of us that perhaps we couldn't access on our own.

Processing Emotional Pain through Creating Art

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This is the fourth post in the series of Processing Emotional Pain. Many people find comfort in processing their pain through art - dance, paint, pen, words, film. Each medium can provide a cathartic release and expression of pain.

Photography is the medium I myself choose to use most often, followed by words, and then by doodles.

Here is a doodle from a prayer journal a couple years back:

Processing Emotional Pain with Jesus

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This is the second post in the series of Processing Emotional Pain. In total conjunction with treatment to processing emotional pain is, for me, my faith in Jesus.

Knowing that Jesus was fully human and suffered like we do - out of pure love is so amazing to me. Jesus wept. Jesus felt lonely and abandoned. Jesus felt tired. Jesus felt physical torture and execution at the hands of those who He was trying to serve.

Processing Pain through Companionship

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This is the third post in the series of Processing Emotional Pain. The posts to the other parts of the series can be found here.

Pain can feel lonely and isolating but we often have "companions in misfortune. In sorrow."

This idea of having a "companion in sorrow" is a theme that is woven throughout Sharon Garlough Brown's book, Shades of Light.

Processing Emotional Pain through Treatment

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This is the first post in the series of Processing Emotional Pain. I originally had this post at the end of the series and purposely moved it to the beginning. Treatment for emotional pain or mental illness is not an after-thought nor a last resort. And, so, here it is, at the beginning.

The enduring stigma around mental suffering and our tendency to oversimplify and over-spiritualize complex emotional needs can unnecessarily magnify the distress of those who are struggling emotionally.

Processing Emotional Pain: Series Intro

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It is likely that if you don’t suffer from emotional pain through trauma, grief, or mental illness, that you have a friend or family member who struggles.

People have pre-conceived notions on how pain should be processed, how long it should take, and what it should look like. But no two person’s experience is the same and should not be treated as such.

Keeping It Together When You're a Scatterbrain

Hi.  My name is Therese and I'm a scatterbrain.  Are you a scatterbrain too? Welcome!

Scatterbrain Times Three

Times three you ask?  Yup.  I am scatterbrained times three.

The Importance of Keeping a Health Journal

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Keeping a health journal can be pivotal to taking control of your health - especially if you are struggling with an unknown diagnosis, changing symptoms, or a complex illness or treatment regimen.
It is critical that you empower and engage yourself as a patient.  Knowing your symptoms and being able to communicate them accurately to your health care team can go a long way with this empowerment.

Nutrition Resources

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Food is Medicine

I truly believe that food and nutrition have a major impact on our health. In fact, I think there are 5 things: Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise, Mindset, and Spirituality. I think all 5 things work together to create optimal health.


As much as food can be medicine, I also believe that food can be poison. What is medicine and what is poison? That somewhat depends on your health situation, your genetic make up, and where you live. There are thousands of theories out there.

How to Work AWAP

AWAP - As Well As Possible.  This is the tag line of Jenni Prokopy over at Chronic Babe.  I love her website and her message - to do as well as possible every day - whatever that may translate to for your particular situation.  Today, for me, it doesn’t translate to a whole heck of a lot!  I’ve been struggling with some overwhelming fatigue coupled with difficulty sleeping at night along with my other usual stuff.  (Brain fuzz enters stage right...)

So, a writer with a chronic illness just does as well as possible.  Just like any other person with a chronic illness.  Or really, any one at all, right?  The next steps on my book are going at a turtle speed, but they are going and that’s important.

Writer Wednesday: Children's Books about Chronic Illness, Part 3

This is part 3 in a series of literature reviews for children coping with a parent who has a chronic or serious illness.  See Part 1 and Part 2!

In this post, I will review Why Does Mommy Hurt, Mommy Has to Stay in Bed, When Mommy Is Sick, and When Pete’s Dad Got Sick: A Book about Chronic Illness.

Photo Friday: Photography and Chronic Illness

A few of you may be scratching your head right now… what do these things have to do with each other?  That’s what this post is all about.

I Love Photography But I Don’t Feel Like Taking Pictures

I’ve uttered those words a thousand times.  Chronic illness wears you down - even for things that you love.  

Writer Wednesday: Children's Books about Chronic Illness, Part 2

This is part 2 in a series of literature reviews for children coping with a parent who has a chronic or serious illness.  See Part 1 and Part 3 of this series.

In this post, I will review The Invisible String, You Are the Best Medicine, and What Does Super Jonny Do When Mum Gets Sick?

Writer Wednesday: Children's Books about Chronic Illness, Part 1

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As promised in last week's Writer Wednesday post, I am providing some literature reviews for children coping with a parent who has a chronic or serious illness.  See Part 2 and Part 3.

In this post, I will review The Paper Chain and When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness.